Signal bell



Feb. 5, 1924. 1,482,532

S. C. RODESS SIGNAL BELL Filed May 12 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m I\ K;lNVENTOR 4 Jar/M 6 7%;Zew

o NEY M/ R Q 6W Feb. 5 1924.;

S. C1. RODESS SIGNAL BELL Filed May 12 1.922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORjzzmuei. K 06365351 BY ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1924. BA8Z582 S. C. RODESSSIGNAL BELL Patented Feb. 5, i924.

SAMUEL C. ROD ESS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SIGNAL BELL.

Application filed May 12, 1922. Serial No. 560,284.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Samoan (l. Roo'nss, a citizen of the United States,and resident of the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, in thecounty of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Signal Bells, of which the following is aspecification.

i'iy invention relates to improvements in the class of signal bellsadapted to be operated to sound signals by the pressure of gases fromthe cylinder of an internal combustion engine, and has reference to theclass of signal bells set forth in my application filed November 10,1921, Serial No. 514,286.

One 01 the objects of my present invention is to enable the clapper'whenactuated.

by pressure from an engine cyiinder to strike during its operatingstroke.

My invention also comprises novel details oi? improvement that will bemore fully hereinafter set forth and their pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming parthereof, wherein Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections through a signalbell embodying my improvements, showing parts in different po'-.sitions, taken substantially on line 11 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a side view looking from the left in Fig. 1; the bell beingomitted;

Fig. l is an enlarged detail face view, partly in section, or" myimproved pressure controlling means;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating my improvements in positionon a portion ofan automobile.

Fig. 6 is aside view of a valve to control 7 pressure for the signalbell;

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6 in Figure 6. v

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through Fig. 6; Figs.- 8 and 9 are detailsillustrating means to connect the signal bell with a support;

Fig. 10 is a partly sectional detail View illustrating modified means tooperate the clapper Fig. 11 is. a detail view illustrating anothermodification to operate the clapper; Fig. 12 is vertical section of Fig.11; Fig. 13 is a side View looking from the left in Fig. 11, the bellbeing omitted, and Fig. 1 1 is a section on line 14-14 in Fig. 11.

Similar. numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in theseveral views:

The bell 1 is shown provided with a support 2 shown in tubular orcylindrical form. The bell may be attached to the support 2 by anysuitable means, such as by the threaded piece or screw 3. Reciprocativewithin the bore 2 of support 2 is a movable memher 4: adapted to operatea clapper-actuator 5 that is pivotally carried upon support 2. Theclapper 6 is pivotally carried within the bell upon support 2 by meansof pivot or pin 7, shown extending through the clapper and lug 8 on saidsupport, which lug extends into opening 6 in the clapper, (Figs. 1, 2, 3and 10). The clapper is shown provided with an adjustable striker (ishown in the form of a bolt, passing through the lower end of theclapper, in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and retained in set position by a nut 6 whereby the striker may be set in position on the clapper to produce the beststriking results against the bell. f desired, the striker may be omittedas shown in Figs. 10 to 13. A spring 9 between the upper end of the clapper and support 2 tends normally to aid in withdrawing the clapper fromthe bell and to retain the clapper away from the bell as in Fig. 1,although the clapper operates also under the influence of gravity.Cooperative means are provided between the movable member a and theactuator 5 for rocking the latter according to the reciprocations ofsaid member, for which purpose I have shown the member l provided withrack-like teeth 4* and the actuator 5 provided with teeth 5 in mesh withteeth 1 which teeth 5 extend through an opening 2 in the wall of support 2 to engage the teeth P. In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, theactuator 5 has a projecting portion in cam-like form,

indicated at 5 having correspondingly curved cam-like surfaces 5 onopposite sides to operate the clapper, Fig. 2. The clapper is shownprovided with an abutment 10, shown in the form of an anti-friction rollon a pin 1O in the clapper, said roll being located in opening 6 of theclapper, whereby as actuator 5 is rocked it will engage said I h hen theactuator is rocked by member 4,

abutment tin'fl'both the downward and up ward Strokes of the projection5 to cause the clapper to strike the bell. As projection 5 will quicklypass abutment the clapper will be released from the bell for quickreturn therefrom, to prevent resistance to the clear ringing of thebell. In Fig. 10 the projection 5 is pivotally connected with a link 11that is hung on pin 10 on the clap er andpivoted to projection 5 by pin12.

the'connections or linkage 5 12; Hand 10, will cause the clapper to bequickly rocked toengage andretreat from the bell.

The bore 2 of support 2 is to besupplied gwith gasor air under pressureon one stroke rand. influenced by release of thepressure or by exhauston the nextstroke, and so on al- Wternately, to reciprocate member 4.Said bore 2 may be connected with a cylinder of ,a' gas engine,indicated at A, by any'suit able means, either by direct connectionthrough a holein the cylinder, or by con- .nection with a priming sparkplugmounted on thecylinder, or by means of a tube 14 interposed betweenthe cylinder and support 2; Tocontrol the effective pressure'andexthaustin bore 2 -0f support 2, I provide the following .means:thereciprocative mem- 3o lien -4 has a stem 15 depending therefrom i andwhich may be detachably connected to 1 member 4 by screw threads Y16 andlocking nut 17: (Figs. 1,2 and 4).. The stem 15 travels freely throughanapertured valve member or disk 18secured within bore 2 so that gasesmay passthrough the bore of 'saiddisk 18 freely around stem 15 (Figs. 1

and 2).

' stopsor shoulders 15, 15 to limit the movementof valves 19, 20,011said stem (Fig. 4). A. spring 21 on stem 15- normally pushes valve 19toward seat 15 and a spring 22 on said stem bearing againsta stop23 onsaid stem normally pushes valve toward shoul der 15 By themeans'described the valves *L9and'20 may alternately bear againstoppositesides of disk 18 and mayfloat with stem 15 free from disk 18 fora distance of travel of member 4.

' -A fitting 25 is provided with threads 25 fiengaging correspondingthreads in bore 2? "of member 2, the inner end of member 25 i beingadapted to engage yalve disk 18 to retain it against a-stop shoulder 26in bore 2%,;(Figsu 1 and 2). The member 25 is adapted to be connectedwith a support and is shown provided with an external threaded 1 portionat 25, adapted to receive a nut 27;

The fitting 25 may be provided with threads ,to-receive a union fitting28. for connection with tube 14. The threads 25 may be screwed into asupport, such as the engine casing A (Fig. 8*),and nut 27 may be setagainst said support to retain the support 2 in the desired adjustedposition. The threads 25 may be screwed into a retaining plate 29 andheld in an adjusted position by nut 27, which plate 29 may be attachedto any desired support, indicated at B. The construction is such, also,that the threaded part 25 of fitting 25, or the threaded part of'upp'ort 2'at 46, (Figs. 10,11, 12)",fmay be clamped by a yoke-likebracket 30 and re tained bynut 27, which bracket may be clamped on thefiller neck31 of anautomobile radiator 32 (Fig. 5).

Suitab'l'emeans may be pro'vided'to control pressureandexhaust in bore 2of support 2. In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, I have illustrated valve meanscomprising a"'casing 32 having a 7 union 34 5) to connect tube 14 withthe valve casing. 'A valve 35 controls the flow of gas through bores 32,32 0f casing 32 to and from tube 14. The/stem 36 of valve 35 is shownnormally pushed by spring 37 to seat valve 35 and alever 38 pivoted at39 on casing 32 is adapted to push stem 36 to unseat valve 35. Lever 38may be operated by suitable means, such as by a wire connection 40extending to'a lever 41 attached by a bracket 42 to the steering post 43of the automobile, or in any other position convenient to the operator.Thecasing 32 has a threaded portion 32 and a nut a, which threadedportion may be screwed into a hole in the engine cylinder to receivefluid pressure therefrom, the nut a enabling the casing 32 to be set andretained in any convenient position for the pull-connection 40.

hen the engine is operating and valve 35 is opened the pressure andexhaust produced by the engine-will be efi'e'ctive through tube 14 tobore 2 of support2. The pressure will pass stem 15 t'hrou'gh' disk 18and operate against member 4 to cau'seitto rise (in Fig. 1),'wherebyactuator5"will rock against abutment 10 to cause clap-per 6 to strikethe bell, and said actuator will pass quickly from said abutment during'the con tinued stroke of member .4 to. permit the clapper to fall awayfrom the bell; on the 1 reverse stroke of member 4 actuator 5 will berocked reversely to' pass abutment 10 to cause the clapper to againstrike, and so on alternately, whereby rapid operation of the clappermay be effected, since the projection 5 will quickly slid-e pastabutment 10 on each stroke. When member 4 has risen on the pressurestroke part of its limit of travel the valve 20 will engageseat 18 toshut off flow of 'fluidagainstmeinber'4 and the momentum of said memberwill cause it to continue a short distance against the resistance ofspring 22 interposed under presthreaded projection 33 to'receive surebetween valves 20 and 23 and then stop. F or the next stroke suction orexhaust in the lower part of bore 2 as well as the efiect of gravity,will cause member 4 to descend and its valve 20 will pass from seat 18",and toward the limit of such stroke of member 4 the valve 19 will engageseat 18 to shut oi? the effect of the exhaust in bore 2* against member4, and. the momentum of said member will be checked by spring 21interposed between member 4 and valve 19 and the member will stop. Theefiect of the operation described is that member 4 is subjected topressure and exhaust during a portion of its strokes'only while theremainder of its strokes is cushioned by springs 21, 22, alternately, toprevent injury to the parts by rapid reciprocations to which member 4may be subjected.

In the forms shown in Figs. ll to 14, I provide two clappers 6 hung uponpin 7, with means to operate them alternately toward and from the bell.In this form the actuator 5 has lateral extensions or shaft portions 5,journaled in bearings in lugs 2 on casin 2, which shaft portions haveeccentricalIy disposed crank pins 5 shown out of register axially witheach other (Fig. 14), so as to act in the nature of doublethrow cranks.The crank pins 5 connect with links 5 that are pivotally connected withthe respective clappers 6 by means of pins 5 'on the clappers (Fig. 14).The arrangement is such that as actuator 5 is rotated back and forth bythe reciprocations of member 4, the crank pins 5 will be correspondinglyrocked whereby the links 5 will cause alternate swinging of the clappers6 to strike the bell alternately.

In Fig. 12 the movable member 4 is shown opposed by springs 44,45, onopposite sides of said member within bore 2 of support 2,

whereby the movements of member 4 will be restrained.

Instead of connecting support 2 to a tube 14, said support may beconnected directly to the engine cylinder, as in the place of valve 32,in Fig. 5, by means of threads 46 on said support. The support may beset in the desired position for convenience in operating lever 47 andretained by nut 27. The bore 2'" of support 2 leads through the lowerend of the latter and has a valve seat 48 to cooperate with the valve 49having a stem 50, that passes through bore 2 and through a bore 4 inmember 4, said stem being in position to be engaged by lever 47. Aspring 51 engaging a stop or pin 52 on stem 50 and engaging also anut-like member 53 screwed into the upper end of support 2 servesnormally to seat valve 49 against seat 48. The member 53 may clamp thebell against the end of support 2, as indicated in Fig. 12.

is closed the clapper will not operate.

My improvements are particularly adapted for use as signal bells forautomobiles, motor boats and the like having internal combustionengines, since when such an engine is operating and its pressure andexhaust is in bore 2 of support 2 the member 4 will be reciprocated solong as valve 35 or valve 49 is retained open. When such valve Myinvention is particularly useful on fire engines and ambulances, whereloud ringing alarms are desirable owing to the conditions under whichsuch vehicles are usually operated.

' My invention is not limited to the details of construction set forthsince the same ma y be varied, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is:

f l. A signal bell comprising a support, a movable member, a bell, aclapper, a rotative actuator for the clapper provided with teeth, saidmember having teeth engaging the first named teeth, and means to admitfluid pressure and exhaust to the support to actuate said member.

2. A signal bell comprising a support, a movable member, a bell, aclapper, an actuator pivotally carried by said support and provided witha cam-like projection to actuate the clapper, teeth cooperative betweensaid actuator and member for operating the former by the latter, andmeans to admit fluid pressure and exhaust to the support to actuate saidmember.

3. A signal bell comprising a support, having a bore provided with anopening, a bell, a clapper, an actuator pivotally carried by saidsupportand having a nrojection provided with cam-like faces on oppositesides, said clapper having means to be engaged by said projection, amovable member having teeth, said actuator having teeth operative insaid opening and cooperative with the teeth of said member for rockingth actuator by the member and means to admit fiuid pressure and exhaustto the support to actuate said member.

4. A. signal bell comprising a support, a bell, a clapper, a fluidpressure operated movable member carried by the support, cooperativedevices between said member and clapper to cause said member to actuatethe clapper, said member and support being provided with cooperativemeans to cut ofi pressure against the member during its strokes.

5. A signal bell comprising a support, a bell, a clapper, a fluidpressure operated movable member carried by the support and cooperativedevices between said member and clapper to cause said member to actuatethe clapper, said member and support being provided with cooperativemeans to cut oil pressure and exhaust against said member before thetermination of its strokes.

6. A signal bell comprising a support, having a passage for fluidpressure, a bell, a clapper, a movable member carried by the support,means to cause said member to actuate the clap-per, said member beingprorided with a stem having spaced valves, said support having seats forsaid valves in said passage, said valves being so spaced as to engagesaid seat-s alternately, and means to admit fluid pressure and exhaustto said passage.

7. A signal bell comprising a support, having a passage for fluidpressure, a bell, a clapper, a movable member carried by the support,means to cause said member to actuate the clapper, a stem carried bysaid mem- .ber having spaced valves, seats for said valves in saidpassage, and springs cooperative with said valves to permit continuedmovement of said member when the valves are on their respective seats,and means to admit fluid pressure and exhaust to said passage. I

said seats, and means to admit fluid pressure and exhaust to saidpassage.

9. A signal bell comprising a support, having a passage for fluidpressure, a bell, a clapper, a movable member carried by the support,means to cause said member to actuate the clapper, said member beingprovided with a stem, valves slidable upon said port between the .latterand said bell, a

movable member reciprocativenwithin said support, actuating means forthe-clapper pi'votally carried by the support-to be rocked by saidmember, the-clapper having 'an abutment to be engaged by said actuatingmeans during its rocking movements, and means to control admission offluid pressure to said support.

11. The combination of a support having a bore, a bell, a member movablewithin said bore, a clapper, means to cause the member to operate theclapper, tube communicating with said bore, a casing connected to'saidtube, said casing having valve means to con trol the flow of fluidpressure and exhaust within said tube, and means to support said valvecasing upon an internalcombustion engine in communication with itscylinder to cause pressure and exhaust between said bore and to actuatesaid member.

12. The combination of a support having a bore, a tube communicatingwith said bore, a member slidable in said bore, abell, a clapper, meansto operate the clap-per by said member, a casing having means to connectit with the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, said casinghaving a bore communicating with said tube, and valve means to controlthe flow of pressure and exhaust from and to said cylinder through'saidtube.

SAMUEL G. RODESS.

